Is this the world of card dealers? Yada thieves!

The staff named "Aiwass" was plunged into Aleister's chest. The magical metal that made up the staff decomposed into countless ribbons that wrapped around Aleister's body, leaving only a green phantom of the staff.

The power of [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] was extracted from Hayato's grave and, along with the unfolding summoning spell, flowed into the magical ribbon and was inscribed upon it. Aleister, with his arms outstretched as if to embrace the world, soared into the air, his aura becoming increasingly oppressive!

Under Hayato's serious gaze, [Summoner-Aleister] merged with the summoned beast "once again," transforming into a gigantic humanoid figure suspended in the air like a god!

[Summoned Beast - Light Body] [8☆/Light]

[Angel Race/Fusion/Effect]

[2000/2800]

Chapter 540 Your base score is already as fragile as a candle in the wind.

As [Summoned Beast - Light Body] looked down upon the ground like a god, Aleister himself, as before, returned to the field once again, relying on the illusion of the staff "Aivas" that he had left behind.

In other words, the [Summoning Magic] card in the graveyard is returned to the deck, and the banished [Summoner - Aleister] card is recycled back to the hand.

Looking at the [Summoned Beast - Augoides] high in the sky, Aleister revealed a proud expression: "The so-called 'Augoeides' can be understood as 'luminous body' or is also thought to refer to 'planet,' but it can also be connected with the higher self and soul."

"[Summoned Beast - Light Body] is the higher self of me, Aleister Crowley, the mage who bears the name 'Great Beast'. I will use it to achieve victory in this duel and to reach even greater heights in your dedication."

"Once per turn, when [Summoned Beast - Light] is Special Summoned or when your opponent Special Summons a monster, you can target and destroy one monster on your opponent's field. [Summoned Beast - Light] also has the ability once per turn to banish one Fusion Monster from my Graveyard, and its ATK increases by the banished monster's ATK until the end of your opponent's turn."

Aleister tried to put on a fierce expression, but then relaxed and became lazy. "Unfortunately, because of the restriction of [Summon - Caligula], I can only activate a monster's effect once this turn, which was when I searched for [Summoning Magic] earlier."

Aleister pointed at Hayato, who had no monsters in the field: "Even without the attack power boost, [Summon - Light Body] still has 2000 attack power. I'm going to enter the battle phase and then use [Summon - Light Body] to attack you directly!"

"Golden Dawn!"

The giant-like [Summoned Beast - Light Body] began to radiate magical light. The "bandages" formed from magical metal gathered into a cylinder, and magic power was released through the inscribed magic circle. A beam of blue magic laser shot towards Hayato!

"Ugh!"

Hayato's base score was only 3000 points to begin with. The unweakening attack of [Summoned Beast - Light Body] took away a full 2000 points of his base score in one fell swoop, leaving him with only 1000 points. He was extremely vulnerable in front of Aleister's monsters!

Aleister watched as Hayato still hadn't activated the back row card, and felt somewhat relieved: "Looks like it's not a card that can turn the tide. Was I being too cautious? No, it was just a necessary test."

"So, you think you've made it through this turn?" At that moment, Aleister activated the Quick-Play Spell Card in his hand!

"Unfortunately, this duel will end this turn! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Scripture of the Law', Tribute 'Summoned Beast - Caligula' from my field to the Graveyard, and Special Summon 'Summoned Beast' (non-DARK) from my Fusion Deck as a Fusion Summon!"

"Giant of a non-existent moving continent, and the strongest summoned beast, descend upon me under my command, [Summoned Beast - Meraniga]!"

In Aleister's backfield, an ancient book was opened. As the pages turned, the figure of [Summoned Beast - Caligula], which had restricted the effects and attacks of monsters, disappeared from Aleister's field. In its place, however, a towering giant suddenly appeared!

Its towering body seemed to be a continental plate laid sideways, piercing the sky. Hot lava flowed all over its rocky body. On the left hand of the rock giant named "Movalaniga", there was also the phantom of Aleister's staff "Aivas", proving that this terrifying existence was also Aleister's summoned beast!

[Summoned Beast - Movaraniga] [8☆/Land]

[Rock/Fusion]

[3000/3300]

"Since it's during the battle, the newly summoned [Summoned Beast - Movaranega] can also attack, and because [Summoned Beast - Caligula] left, I no longer have any restrictions on my attacks!"

"Fist of the Mountain!"

The Summoned Beast, Movaranega, whose attack power is comparable to that of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, raised its giant rock fist, from which lava dripped from time to time, and the rock fist, which was comparable in size to the entire size of an ordinary monster, slammed down on Hayato!

With only 1000 basic points left, Hayato is simply unable to withstand this attack, and at this moment, Hayato doesn't even have a single monster or a single card in his hand!

"I am the victor of this duel, and the winds of victory are blowing from behind me!" Aleister said confidently.

But seeing the attack coming, Hayato chuckled lightly: "So rei wa to ka na!"

"Activate the Trap Card, [Silent Evil Spirit]!"

"What?!"

As Hayato opened the card, countless evil spirits flew out of the card to block the rock fist of [Summoned Beast - Meraniga], while some of them entangled the body of the [Magical General Store Merchant] next to him.

"【Silent Evil Spirit】can only be activated during your opponent's Battle Step. It negates the attack of one monster and targets another face-up monster on your opponent's field instead of attacking. If it is a Defense Position monster, it is switched to Attack Position." Hayato pointed at 【Magical General Store】, "I choose your 【Magical General Store】!"

[Magic General Store Merchant] [DEF700→ATK200]

The rock giant was forced to stop attacking due to the evil spirit's entanglement. Instead, the reluctant [Magic General Store Merchant] swung [Broken Bamboo Light] and slashed at Hayato.

[Hayato: 1000→800LP]

Although it was only 200 points of damage, it still hurt a lot. However, compared to taking 3000 points of damage directly, Hayato could still endure a mere 200 points of damage.

Aleister glared at his [Magical General Store Merchant] on the field, annoyed. He shouldn't have summoned [Summoned Beast - Light Body] earlier; he should have used [Magical General Store Merchant] to summon [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] again. But it was a little too late to regret it now.

"You escaped with your life, in that case, I'll end my battle phase." Aleister glanced at his 1750 base points, then at the mere 200 attack power of the [Magical General Store] that had been forcibly switched to attack stance, and temporarily put it aside. "Because of the departure of [Summoned Beast - Caligula], it's not just the attack restrictions on monsters that have been lifted."

"During Main Phase Two, I activate the second effect of [Summoned Beast - Light], banishing [Summoned Beast - Merkaba] from my Graveyard and increasing its ATK by 2500 until the end of your turn."

“Then, my turn ends.” Aleister said irritably, having no cards left to cover. “I’ll let you struggle for one more turn. Next turn, the [Foresight Savings Account] I activated earlier will take effect, and I can add three more cards to my hand at once. I will still be the winner.”

[Aleister: 1750LP, 1 card in hand]

[Magical General Store Merchant] (Broken Bamboo Light) [ATK200]

[Summoned Beast - Movaraniga] [ATK3000]

[Summoned Beast - Light Body] [ATK 2000 → 4500]

"Your basic score is already as fragile as a candle in the wind."

Upon hearing Aleister Crowley's words, Hayato, who had placed his fingers on his deck in preparation for drawing cards this turn, knew he was in the bag.

Chapter 541 Your next sentence is, 'Short and weak, another update'

"My turn, draw a card!"

Upon seeing the card he had drawn, Hayato smiled: "Now, I hold the future in my hands."

"I activate the Spell Card [Life-Slaying Treasure Card], which replenishes my hand to five cards. Then, due to the high cost of this powerful card, I will discard all my cards during the fifth Standby Phase after activation!"

As he spoke, Hayato drew five cards, prompting Aleister to retort, "Everyone's dead after five rounds. What kind of cheating price is this?"

Hayato glanced at the cards he had drawn and pulled one out: "Aleister Crowley, since you have summoned your strongest summon, then in return, I will summon the strongest fusion monster in my deck this turn."

"I activate the Spell Card [Spiral Fusion], using [Dark Knight Gaia] and [Infernal Curse Dragon] from my hand as Fusion Materials, and send them to the Graveyard!"

"Chaos wandering in the darkness! A swift wind that cuts through the heavens! Appear! Level 7!"

"Fusion Summoning! [Dragon Sorcerer Knight - Gaia]!"

【Dragon Knight - Gaia】【7☆/Wind】

[Dragon/Fusion/Effect]

[2600/2100]

A powerful magical force was released from Gaia, breaking the curse on the Cursed Dragon and merging the two into the legendary Dragon Rider, who descended upon Hayato's field.

"The first effect of 【Dragon Knight Gaia】is that while this card is in the Monster Zone, its name is treated as 【Dragon Knight Gaia】. If the Fusion Monster summoned by 【Spiral Fusion】 is 【Dragon Knight Gaia】, it gains 2600 ATK and is granted the ability to attack monsters up to twice during a Battle Phase!"

【Dragon Knight - Gaia】【ATK2600→5200】【ATK7800→5200】

"Attack power of 5200 points, and it can attack twice!?"

Aleister was alarmed. If Hayato attacked with [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia], it would be disastrous. "In that case, I'll have to chain [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia]'s Special Summon to activate the effect of my [Summoned Beast - Light]!"

"Once per turn, if your opponent special summons a monster, you can target 1 monster on their field. Destroy that monster, and thus extinguish your last hope. I choose to destroy [Dragon Spell Knight - Gaia]!"

The knight riding a dragon soared into the air, only to be intercepted by a colossus that also existed high in the sky. The "bandages" on the giant humanoid [Summoned Beast - Light Body] twisted into sharp spears and were hurled at [Dragon Demon Knight - Gaia], who dared to challenge the majesty of the god!

Hayato calmly played a card: "Muda muda muda, chaining the effect of [Summoned Beast - Light Body], I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Forbidden Cloth], reducing [Dragon Sorcerer Knight - Gaia]'s ATK by 600, and granting it the ability to not be targeted by card effects or destroyed by card effects until the end of the turn!"

"Your next sentence is, 'What? It's about destroying resistance!'"

"What?! It's destructive resistance! What?!" Aleister couldn't help but complain as he watched the white armor on [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] block all the magical metal spears thrown by his [Summoned Beast - Light Body]. He belatedly realized that he had actually said the words Hayato had just predicted.

"Your next sentence was, 'You even guessed what I was going to say?'"

"You actually know what I'm going to say?! You bastard!"

The Dragon Magic Knight Gaia, manifested in the sky due to the power of [Spiral Fusion], had its attack power reduced slightly, but successfully landed on Hayato's field, and Aleister's momentum was completely suppressed by Hayato.

【Dragon Knight - Gaia】【ATK5200→4800】【ATK7800→5200】

"Hmph, it seems that, just as you said, this duel will end before your [Foresight Savings Account] takes effect, Aleister. However, there is one slight difference: the victor is me, Kobayashi Hayato, and that remains unchanged."

"Entering combat phase, [Dragon Sorcerer Knight - Gaia] attacks your [Magic General Store Merchant]!"

In the previous round, in order to reduce the resources in Hayato's graveyard as much as possible, Aleister chose to banish [Sky Dragon Knight - Gaia] from Hayato's graveyard instead of [Magic General Store Merchant] on his own field to perform [Summoning Magic]. This allowed Hayato to successfully use it to avoid being directly attacked by [Summoned Beast - Meraniga].

Now, although its attack power has decreased by 600 points, it is still as high as 4800 points, which is 300 points higher than that of the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. The Dragon Sorcerer Gaia thrusts its lance at the Magic Merchant who was summoned by Aleister at the very beginning of the duel.

Perhaps he doesn't use the strongest monster against the strongest monster, and some might consider the victory dishonorable, but Hayato never cares about such things. Domination and victory—that's his dueling style.

The [Magic General Store Merchant], with only 200 attack points, was instantly shattered by an attack of 4800 points, and Aleister's remaining 1750 basic points were also wiped out in an instant.

[Aleister: 1750LP → 0]

"Ugh!!" Aleister himself collapsed to the ground as his base score dropped to zero.

The towering [Summoned Beast - Meraniga] and [Summoned Beast - Light Body] gradually dissipated as the duel ended, and Hayato, who had won the victory, stood before Aleister as the victor.

"Oh dear, that was a relentless and forceful attack. It seems my training in the Duel Ritual is still a bit lacking; I should address my weaknesses sooner rather than later. Just as even the most talented humans can easily perish due to physical fragility, I was completely defeated by the very first [Magical General Store].

As the loser of the duel, Aleister was now surrounded by specks of golden light, seemingly about to dissipate, as he looked helplessly at Hayato before him. Clearly, the Dark Games were adhering to the original rules and collecting Hayato's due reward.

However, listening to Aleister's self-reflection, Hayato disagreed: "Do you think that by eliminating that flaw, you can elevate yourself to perfection?"

“Isn’t that right?” Aleister said with some regret. “Even if your [Dragon Sorcerer Knight - Gaia] can attack twice, besides [Magical General Store Merchant], my field has [Moraniga] with 3000 attack power and [Light Body] with 4500 attack power. I can also increase [Moraniga]’s attack power by 1000 by discarding myself from my hand. Even if your [Dragon Sorcerer Knight - Gaia] can attack twice, it will only deal 1100 damage to me.”

"And in my next turn, I can use [Summoning Magic] again to summon a powerful monster to fight. With the [Foresight Savings Book] card and basic card draw, the outcome is not so certain."

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Hayato shook his head, looking down at Aleister, who was still somewhat unconvinced. “I’m asking you, do you really think human fragility is a flaw?”

“My thoughts are different from yours. Although human life is short and the body is fragile, it is precisely because of these fundamentals that humans can understand the preciousness of time and shine brightly in their short lives.”

“Compared to the long and dim life of immortal beings, isn’t a brief but eternal flash like fireworks more beautiful?” Hayato said, taking out the card [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] that he had just used. “Moreover, [Dragon Magic Knight - Gaia] has the ability to increase its attack power by 2600 points after destroying a monster.”

Whether he was persuaded by Hayato or stunned by Hayato's "killing the mind while killing the body" approach, which made him understand his defeat even though he was already the victor, Aleister gave a bitter smile: "I really lose to you. Perhaps you are an interesting guy. Thinking about it that way, following you might not be a bad outcome."

"Then, please take care of me, Master..."

Aleister reached out and grasped Hayato's outstretched hand before vanishing completely, leaving behind a monster card in Hayato's hand: [Summoner - Aleister].